Welcome to In the Q—your go-to-source for industry trends to KQ wins. We’re sharing good work for good people everywhere, every quarter.

Last year was a journey of incredible partnerships, award-winning work, and forward progression at KQ Communications. As we continue to positively impact communities everywhere, we look back with appreciation and forward to everything 2026 has in store.

To schedule a meeting with KQ Communications President/CEO Renee Malone, APR, to discuss a new or existing project, visit Calendly here or call 901.761.9286.

Throughout the month of February, KQ’s social media accounts will highlight Black inventors, investors, trailblazers, creatives, and leaders. Follow along, as we celebrate their contributions to our work and our world.



KQ Communications and our talented team members were recognized many times over in 2025, and we are so proud to have delivered high-quality work to our clients that resonated with industry leaders. A few highlights and new recognitions:

KQ is an integrated communications firm that successfully moves messages and transforms businesses and organizations that positively impact communities. Throughout our areas of public relations, social media, design, and digital marketing, we partner with our clients and provide strategic solutions beyond the standard.

In each issue of this year's In the Q, we will share additional insights about one of our four main service areas, starting with graphic design.

Services

• Brand strategy
• Graphic and collateral design
• Corporate naming and brand identity design

Case Study: Atlanta Public Schools 

Atlanta Public Schools connected with KQ to increase awareness about its Center for Equity and Social Justice. Through our research methods, design support for the digital magazine, and social media management, the team generated a 600% increase in the center’s social media following within a year.

We’re two months into our relationship with 2026.

So far, it’s felt a bit cold and calculating, with wintry weather and unexpected work-from-home days. Still, there are signs this could turn into something meaningful. February rallied with a record-breaking Super Bowl halftime show and the celebration of the 100th year of Black History Month — reminders that even with a slow start, culture and connection push forward.

But 2026 isn’t just delivering moments. It’s delivering momentum.

We’re being introduced to technology at a scale we haven’t experienced since the rise of the internet or the iPhone. It’s safe to say AI will be a major changemaker this year. While it’s been evolving for several years, the world is now realizing it's here to stay, and it’s expanding its capabilities. As experts continue to emphasize, the real risk isn’t just AI replacing entry-level jobs; it’s displacing professionals who refuse to learn how to use it.

For communicators and content creators, AI alone isn’t the advantage. It must be paired with strategy and preparation.

If our work is reactive, tactical or trend-chasing, we’ll lose ground. Delivering optimal outcomes requires pre-game planning, thoughtful, and strategic preparation.

Today, we have tools that allow us to move beyond surface-level insights and deeply analyze audiences to uncover what truly drives brand loyalty.

In a crisis? Preparation makes the difference. Ongoing reputation management builds the trust needed to survive difficult moments.

When imagery must deliver impact, we rely on design strategists and architects — not just tacticians — so every visual element supports a larger vision.

And in social media, our content calendars are focused on two essentials: creativity and authenticity. In 2026, if either is missing, your audience will be too.

As for AI — the opposite of authentic — it will have an invisible presence in nearly every office this year. At KQ, we’ve taken a proactive approach. Our AI policy is in place, our team has been trained, and many have earned certifications across varying levels of AI expertise. We recognize that, like any emerging technology, AI isn’t perfect. But it must be embraced — strategically and responsibly.

In our industry, AI helps us ideate, research, summarize, transcribe, accelerate productivity, and increase reliability without sacrificing quality. It’s the new assistant at the table.

Still, strategy must remain human-led. Preparation must remain intentional. Judgment must remain ours.

If we balance innovation with responsibility, 2026 won’t just be another year we navigate — it will be a relationship we’ll remember. 



In case you’re wondering, these words are my own. I tapped AI as a tool to review and provide minor edits.